Valerie Concepcion is proud to see her 17-year-old daughter Heather Fiona coming of age and chasing her dreams. Heather recently graduated from senior high school and is now set to go to college.
She will be taking up Nursing at the Far Eastern University in Manila. Not her first choice, Valerie told PEP.ph's (Philippine Entertainment Portal) Deputy Guide editor Jimpy Anarcon for PEP Live last July 12, 2022.
She said, "Gusto niya kasi is maging flight attendant, pero sabi ko nga, maganda rin yung may back-up siya na course especially if we plan to move sa U.S.
"Mas maganda na mag-nursing. Para kung gusto niya rin yun as pre-med, puwede rin, di ba? So buti naman, pumayag naman siya. Masunuring anak."
Dreading the day Heather goes solo
The 34-year-old celebrity mom further revealed Heather will be living in a condo near her school. Although Valerie has been dreading the day Heather will leave home to go on her own, she said said it was her idea to get her daughter a condo.
She explained, "O, kumuha tayo ng condo, para kapag weekend, nandun ako sa iyo.' Kasi mahihirapan dahil Saturday, may classes din siya, e."
Valerie admitted feeling somewhat jittery about the new setup, but her support for Heather remains solid. She told Jimpy, "Naiiyak nga ako, e, kasi magka-college na, like, tomorrow maghahanap na kami ng titirhan niya, kung saan siya mag-i-stay.
"So ayun, but of course, I'm proud of her kasi, ako nung 18 ako, hindi ko maiisip yun kahit may anak na ako, yung pagsosolo.
"Pero siya, she's very independent. She really wants to learn about sa buhay-buhay.
"And that's why I'm very proud of her talaga."
Crying at high school graduation, what more during the wedding?
Usually it's the kids who suffer anxiety when they get separated fom their parents. But in Valerie and Heather's case, it's the other way around.
The Raising Mamay actress became sentimental as she related, "Eighteen years old na siya sa October, e, hanggang ngayon magkatabi pa rin kami matulog.
"Kasi yung asawa ko na sa Guam, kami ng anak ko, nandito sa Pilipinas. Wala din naman akong katabi so kami ng anak ko, magkatabi pa rin kami matulog.
"Nung wedding ko, yung mom ko, umiyak siya. 'Tapos yung iyak niya, niloloko namin, 'Ma, bakit naman yung iyak mo parang namatayan? Ikakasal o!' Ganun!"
Valerie then burst out, "'Tapos nung graduation ng anak ko, ito nga high school graduation pa lang, teary-eyed ako, pinigil ko lang umiyak, e.
"Kasi, siyempre, single mom ka for the longest time. And then, makikita mo ngayon gumagraduate ng high school.
"Sabi ko, 'Paano kung ga-graduate ng college or pag kinasal? Diyos, baka maglupasay ako!'"
Asked about a piece of advice for her daughter, Valerie said she just hopes her daughter will continue to open up to her about her life. "Ako kasi, I'm a very cool mom. Wow, hindi ko alam if she can say that about me!
"Pero yun nga, as I said kanina, para lang kaming magbarkada...Siguro ang maa-advice ko sa kanya, yun nga, to continue to be open to me.
"Na magkuwento na para lang kaming friends kasi para naga-guide ko siya step by step, di ba?"
Tips for parents when kids move out
Times of India provides parents with children who are becoming independent with a few tips. Here are things you can do to prepare yourself if your child is moving out:
1. Make a plan for how to keep in touch.
Both parent and child can become busy because of your responsibilities, make sure you stay on top of keeping in touch, calling, sending messages, or catching up over a meal.
2. Talk to other parents who can relate with you.
Got friends who have gone through something similar? Ask them what worked for them and what was not helpful for some ideas on how you can go through this transition.
3. Bring back your list of what you've always wanted to do but didn't have time for.
If you had a bucket list of things you wanted to achieve, places you wanted to see, or things you wanted to do, now might be a good time to revive it or add to it.
READ MORE STORIES ON VALERIE CONCEPCION:
- Valerie Concepcion's Daughter, Whom She Had At Age 16, Graduates From High School Now At 17
- A Single Mother at 16, Valerie Concepcion Had to Work: Walang Aasahan Kundi Sarili
- 7 Single Moms We Love And What We Learned From Them Like Strength, Courage, And Following Your Dream
This story originally appeared on Pep.ph.
*Minor edits have been made by the SmartParenting.com.ph editors.
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